McMaster proposes SCPC legislative initiatives

McMaster proposes SCPC legislative initiatives

On Wednesday, in a joint session of the House and Senate S.C. Governor Henry McMaster delivered his 2025 State of the State address. The South Carolina Governor notably showed strong support for reforms supported by the SCPC, specifically eliminating income tax, school choice, and civil liability reform.

You can learn more about the policies SCPC is championing in our 2025-26 Legislative Agenda 

State of State Highlights 

McMaster’s first policy recommendation was cutting the income tax from 6.2% to 6% adding: 

“However, we should not stop at 6%. We should keep cutting as much and as fast as we can until we can eliminate the personal income tax altogether.” 

With the SCPC Responsible Budget model in place, South Carolina can afford to significantly cut state income taxes. SCPC was a primary supporter of accelerated income tax relief last year and supports it again this year. 

On school choice, McMaster continued: 

" I ask that the General Assembly send to my desk, as soon as possible, a new Education Scholarship Trust Fund bill, one that addresses last year’s State Supreme Court decision.” 

SCPC has proposed multiple routes to achieving a workable school choice program in South Carolina, as explained in our roadmap to universal school choice.  Two proposals are working through the Senate now: S.62 and S.50. SCPC supports both programs and supports removing income restrictions and enrollment caps. 

The Governor emphasized the need for joint and several liability reform, advocating for a balanced solution that upholds accountability, legal certainty, and fair compensation while safeguarding the state’s economic stability. 

“Individuals and businesses, both large and small, are becoming unduly penalized for the actions of others – too often through crippling financial judgments and skyrocketing insurance premiums.” said McMaster. 

SCPC has made joint and several liability reform a priority for the 25-26 legislative session, citing it on our 2025-26 legislative agenda. Our 2023 report on South Carolinas unfair civil liability system details how South Carolina businesses and citizens can be forced to pay entire legal verdicts, even if they are only partially at fault for an incident. 

The full text of Governor McMaster’s 2025 State of the State address can be viewed here.